Easy To Assemble?

Apparently some person, or persons, has managed to discover that I have indeed requested the official and genuine Nomination Petition Form Packet authorizing me, or my agents, to run around and ask registered voters to sign on the dotted line.

Someone has already suggested that there is no need to request the forms, that by golly, you can just download 'em. Ahh, no, not so fast there.

The following is from the PA State Department's Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation.

• BECAUSE THESE FORMS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AT THE TIME OF FILING, YOU MUST REQUEST AN OFFICIAL PACKET OF FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.

They made me do it. I had no choice. An official request was required, so officially I requested. My Official Packet is on its way via UPS. Wouldn't you think the state would use the USPS? No, they use UPS.

And don't you just wonder a little why it is that the PA Department of State handles the details of those running for federal office? The Federal Election Commission doesn't get their hands on much of anything until, and if, you start raising, accumulating, and spending money. Here come some details...

• First day you or someone representing you can begin asking for signatures is January 22nd. If you sign, you're then a signatory. There is no obligation, no sales representative will call.


• The last day you can scrounge for signatures is February 12th. So, if you're hoping to round up a 1,000 or more friends, you need to shake your tail and get along with things.


• February 12th also is the day you actually file those petitions. But you're not anywhere near home yet.

More dates to consider...

• On February 13th you circulate and file nomination papers.


• By February 27th, if all is well and you've made it this far, now is when you face the last day you can change your mind and withdraw.


• If you miss this deadline, you're on the ballot, whether you like it or not, whether your opponents like it or not. Hello, candidate! You can sit home and stare out the window waiting for the crocuses to poke through the rich and marvelous Spring soil, but you're still on that ballot. If you somehow capture the nomination, I suppose you'll have to leave the window and go somewhere to do something.

Boy, do I have all the answers or what? Hardly. I have so few. Questions, I got.

For example: You need 1,000 signatures and $150.00 to file. From where do those signatures need come? They do have to be from registered voters of the same party as you, and they are subject to examination and elimination should it be discovered that they are flawed in some way.

But...where do the signatories need to be domiciled? Must they be residents of the district which you hope to represent? Given that you need not live in a congressional district to represent that district, shouldn't it follow that the signatories need not reside there either? Shouldn't it only matter that they are residents of Pennsylvania since it is Pennsylvania's Department of State that oversees all of this?

I'm getting a headache. Maybe when my official packet arrives, all will be crystal clear. Oh, and if you're thinking about a run for president, this coming Monday is the deadline to file here in Pennsylvania.

P.S. Above to the left is an official seal of Pennsylvania circa 1902. Since it's no longer in use, using it should be just fine. If it's not good enough for the state, it can't be too good for me.